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EP3156852B1 - Feeding device - Google Patents

Feeding device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3156852B1
EP3156852B1 EP16193454.2A EP16193454A EP3156852B1 EP 3156852 B1 EP3156852 B1 EP 3156852B1 EP 16193454 A EP16193454 A EP 16193454A EP 3156852 B1 EP3156852 B1 EP 3156852B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
feeding
rotational axis
screw
axis
respect
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP16193454.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3156852A1 (en
Inventor
Hiroaki Nosho
Takatoshi Hamada
Noriyuki Komatsu
Ryuta Murakami
Naoki Matsumaru
Naoki Maeda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP3156852A1 publication Critical patent/EP3156852A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3156852B1 publication Critical patent/EP3156852B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0887—Arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing unit, e.g. agitating, removing impurities or humidity
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0806—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller
    • G03G15/0808—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller characterised by the developer supplying means, e.g. structure of developer supply roller
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/10—Collecting or recycling waste developer
    • G03G21/105—Arrangements for conveying toner waste
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0887—Arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing unit, e.g. agitating, removing impurities or humidity
    • G03G15/0891—Arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing unit, e.g. agitating, removing impurities or humidity for conveying or circulating developer, e.g. augers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/08—Details of powder developing device not concerning the development directly
    • G03G2215/0802—Arrangements for agitating or circulating developer material
    • G03G2215/0816—Agitator type
    • G03G2215/0827—Augers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a feeding device according to the preamble of claim 1 for feeding a developer, and is suitable for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material (medium) by using an electrophotographic image forming process.
  • the electrophotographic image forming apparatus may include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (LED printer, laser beam printer or the like), a facsimile machine and a word processor, etc., for example.
  • the feeding device is a device for feeding a developer for use with the image forming apparatus to a predetermined place.
  • a device for feeding a residual developer, remaining on a photosensitive drum after transfer, to a residual developer accommodating chamber it is possible to cite a device for feeding a residual developer, remaining on a photosensitive drum after transfer, to a residual developer accommodating chamber.
  • a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member i.e., a photosensitive drum as an image bearing member is electrically charged uniformly. Then, the charged photosensitive drum is selectively exposed to light, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed as a toner image with a toner as a developer. Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto the recording material such as a recording sheet or a plastic sheet, and then the toner image transferred on the recording material is subjected to application of heat and pressure and thus is fixed on the recording material to effect image recording.
  • the recording material such as a recording sheet or a plastic sheet
  • Such an image forming apparatus requires toner supply and maintenance of various process means in general.
  • a process cartridge in which the photosensitive drum, the charging means, the developing means, the cleaning means and the like are integrally assembled into a cartridge in a single frame is made detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main assembly and has been put into practical use.
  • the maintenance of the devices can be made by a user himself (herself), and therefore operativity can be remarkably improved, so that it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus excellent in usability. For that reason, the process cartridge type has been widely used in the image forming apparatus.
  • US 2007/242993 A1 shows a generic feeding device according to the preamble of claim 1 for feeding a developer along a first feeding path and a second feeding path.
  • the feeding device comprises a first feeding member rotatable around a first rotational axis and for feeding the developer in a feeding direction along a first rotational axis direction of said first rotational axis, said first feeding member being provided in the first feeding path and including a driving shaft and a drive transmitting portion; and a second feeding member rotatable around a second rotational axis and for feeding the developer along a second rotational axis direction of said second rotational axis crossing the first rotational axis direction of said first rotational axis, and said second feeding member being provided in the second feeding path and including a driven shaft and a drive receiving portion; and a bearing portion for rotatably supporting said second feeding member, wherein said drive transmitting portion and said drive receiving portion engage with each other so as to enable delivery of the developer from said first feeding member to said second feeding member
  • the object of the present invention is achieved by a feeding device having the features of claim 1.
  • a rotational axis direction of a photosensitive drum is a longitudinal direction. Further, with respect to the longitudinal direction, a side in which the photosensitive drum receives a driving force from an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus is a driving side, and an opposite side thereof is a non-driving side.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a main assembly of an image forming apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main assembly A) in which a feeding device according to this embodiment is mounted and showing a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge B.
  • the apparatus main assembly A is a portion from which the cartridge B is removed.
  • the process cartridge described as the cartridge B is a cartridge including at least an image bearing member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and is a cartridge integrally including the image bearing member and a process means actable on the image bearing member.
  • Such a process cartridge is detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus.
  • the process cartridge described as the cartridge B it is possible to cite a process cartridge prepared by integrally assembling, for example, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and, as the process means, at least one of a developing means, a charging means and a cleaning means into a cartridge (unit).
  • the image forming apparatus shown in Figure 2 is a laser beam printer using electrophotography in which the cartridge B is detachably mountable to the apparatus main assembly A.
  • an exposure device (laser scanner unit) 3 for forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as a drum) 62 of the cartridge B is provided.
  • a sheet (feeding) tray 4 in which a recording material or medium (hereinafter referred to as a sheet material) P to be subjected to image formation is accommodated is provided below the cartridge B.
  • a pick-up roller 5a, a feeding roller pair 5b, a conveying roller pair 5c, a transfer guide 6, a transfer roller 7, a feeding guide 8, a fixing device 9, a discharging roller pair 10, a discharge tray 11 and the like are successively provided.
  • the fixing device 9 is constituted by a heating roller 9a and a pressing roller 9b.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view of the cartridge B.
  • the drum 62 is rotationally driven an a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) in an arrow R direction. Then, as shown in Figure 3 , a charging roller 66 to which a bias voltage is applied contacts the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62 and electrically charges the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62 uniformly.
  • the exposure device 3 outputs laser light L depending on image information as shown in Figure 2 .
  • the laser light L passes through a laser opening 71h provided in a cleaning frame 71, so that the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62 is subjected to scanning exposure. As a result, on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62, the electrostatic latent image depending on the image information is formed.
  • a toner T in a toner chamber 29 (developing chamber), for accommodating the developer for image formation, provided in a developing unit 20 as a developing device is stirred and fed by rotation of a first stirring member 43, a second stirring member 44 and a third stirring member 50, thus being sent to a toner supplying chamber 28.
  • the toner T is carried by a magnetic force of a magnet roller 34 (fixed magnet) on a surface of a developing roller 32 as a developer carrying member opposing the drum 62.
  • the toner T is regulated in layer thickness on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 32 by a developing blade 42 as a collecting member for collecting the developer while being triboelectrically charged.
  • the toner T is supplied onto the drum 62 depending on the electrostatic latent image, so that the electrostatic latent image is visualized (developed) as a toner image.
  • the sheet material P accommodated in the sheet tray 4 provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main assembly A is fed from the sheet tray 4. Then, the sheet material P is fed to a transfer position between the drum 62 and the transfer roller 7 via the transfer guide 6. In this transfer position, the toner image is successively transferred from the drum 62 onto the sheet material P.
  • the sheet material P on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the drum 62 and then is fed to the fixing device 9 along the conveying guide 8. Then, the sheet material P passes through a nip between the heating roller 9a and the pressing roller 9b which constitute the fixing device 9. At this nip, a pressure and heat-fixing process is effected, so that the toner image is fixed on the sheet material P.
  • the sheet material P on which the toner image is fixed is fed to the discharging roller pair 10 and then is discharged onto the discharge tray 11 in an arrow D direction.
  • a residual toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62 is removed by a cleaning blade 77 as a collecting member for collecting the developer, and the drum 62 is used again in the image forming process.
  • the residual toner removed from the drum 62 is stored in a residual toner chamber 71b as an accommodating portion of a cleaning unit 60.
  • the charging roller 66, the developing roller 32, the transfer roller 7 and the cleaning blade 77 are process means actable on the drum 62.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus main assembly A of which an openable door 13 is opened for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge B.
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus main assembly A and the cartridge B in a state in which the openable door 13 is opened for permitting the mounting and demounting of the cartridge B and then a tray 18 is pulled out.
  • Figure 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus main assembly A and the cartridge B when the cartridge B is mounted and demounted in the state in which the openable door 13 is opened and then the tray 18 is pulled out.
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view of a driving side positioning portion between the cartridge B and the apparatus main assembly A in a state in which the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main assembly A.
  • the openable door 13 is rotatably attached, and when the openable door 13 is opened, a cartridge inserting opening 17 is exposed.
  • a tray 18 for mounting the cartridge B in the apparatus main assembly A is provided in the cartridge inserting opening 17, a tray 18 for mounting the cartridge B in the apparatus main assembly A is provided.
  • the cartridge B when the tray 18 is pulled out to a predetermined position, the cartridge B can be mounted and demounted.
  • the cartridge B is inserted (mounted) in the apparatus main assembly A along a guide rail (not shown) in an arrow C direction in Figure 6 in a state in which the cartridge B is placed on the tray 18.
  • the mounting and demounting of the cartridge B relative to the tray 18 are made along an arrow E direction in Figure 6 .
  • the apparatus main assembly A is provided with a first driving shaft 14 and a second driving shaft 19 as shown in Figure 6 .
  • the first driving shaft 14 transmits a driving force to a first coupling 70 of the cartridge B.
  • the second driving shaft 19 transmits a driving force to a second coupling 21.
  • the first driving shaft 14 and the second driving shaft 19 are driven by a motor (not shown) of the apparatus main assembly A.
  • the drum 62 connecting with the first coupling 70 receives the driving force from the apparatus main assembly A and is rotated.
  • the developing roller 32 is rotated by transmission of the driving force from the second coupling 21. Further, to the charging roller 66 and the developing roller 32, a predetermined bias voltage is applied by an electric power supplying portion (not shown) of the apparatus main assembly A.
  • the apparatus main assembly A is provided with a driving side-side plate 15 and the non-driving side-side plate 16 for supporting the cartridge B.
  • the driving side-side plate 15 is provided with a driving side-first supporting portion 15a, a driving side-second supporting portion 15b and a rotation supporting portion 15c for the cartridge B.
  • the non-driving side-side plate 16 is provided with a non-driving side-first supporting portion 16a, a non-driving side-second supporting portion 16b and a rotation supporting portion 16c for the cartridge B.
  • driving side portions-to-be-supported of the cartridge B a portion-to-be-supported 73b and a portion-to-be-supported 73d of a drum bearing 73, and a driving side boss 71a of the cleaning frame 71 are provided as shown in Figure 7 . Further, a non-driving side projection 71f and a non-driving side boss 71g are provided as shown in Figure 8 .
  • the portion-to-be-supported 73b is supported by the driving side-first supporting portion 15a
  • the portion-to-be-supported 73d is supported by the driving side-second supporting portion 15b
  • the driving side boss 71a is supported by the rotation supporting portion 15c.
  • the non-driving side projection 71f is supported by the non-driving side-first supporting portion 16a and the non-driving side-second supporting portion 16b, and the non-driving side boss 71g is supported by the rotation supporting portion 16c.
  • a portion-to-be-regulated (not shown) provided on the drum bearing 73 engages with a regulating portion 2 provided in the apparatus main assembly A, so that a position of the cartridge B with respect to the drum axis direction is determined, and thus the cartridge B is positioned in the apparatus main assembly A.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view of the cartridge B.
  • Figures 10 - 13 are perspective views for illustrating a structure of the cartridge B.
  • Figures 10 and 13 are partially enlarged views showing dotted-circle portions of Figures 10 and 12 , respectively, with a different angle. In this embodiment, screws used during connection of respective parts will be omitted from description.
  • the cartridge B in this embodiment includes the cleaning unit 60 as a developer feeding unit for feeding the developer and includes the developing unit 20.
  • the process cartridge in which the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are connected with each other will be described.
  • the present invention is not limited thereto, but may also be applicable to a cleaning unit 60 consisting of a cleaning device alone or a developing unit consisting of a feeding device alone.
  • the cleaning unit 60 includes the drum 62, the charging roller 66, the cleaning member 77, the cleaning frame 71 and a cover member 72 fixed to the cleaning frame 71 by welding or the like.
  • each of the charging roller 66 and the cleaning member 77 is disposed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 62.
  • the cleaning member 77 in this embodiment includes a rubber blade 77a which is a blade-shaped elastic member formed of a rubber as an elastic material, and includes a supporting member 77b for supporting the rubber blade 77a.
  • the rubber blade 77a contacts the drum 62 counterdirectionally to a rotational direction of the drum 62. That is, the rubber blade 77a contacts the drum 62 so that a free end portion thereof faces toward an upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the drum 62.
  • the cleaning member was described using the cleaning blade, but is not limited thereto. It is also possible to use a roller-shaped cleaning member.
  • FIG 9 (a) is a sectional view of the cleaning unit 60.
  • a residual developer hereinafter referred to as a residual toner
  • the feeding member includes at least a shaft and a feeding portion for feeding the toner.
  • the cleaning unit 60 includes a first screw 86, a second screw 87, a third screw 88, the cleaning frame 71, a screw cover 74 and the cover member 72.
  • a residual toner accommodating container 75 as a developer accommodating container is prepared by connecting the cleaning frame 71, the screw cover 74 and the cover member 72, and accommodates the residual toner.
  • the second screw 87 as a second feeding member feeds the toner in an arrow Y direction.
  • the toner is accumulated in the residual toner chamber 71b by the third screw 88 as a third feeding member provided inside the residual toner chamber 71b formed by the cleaning frame 71 and the screw cover 74.
  • rotational axes of the first screw 86 and the third screw 88 are parallel to a rotational axis of the drum 62, and a rotational axis of the second screw 87 is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drum 62.
  • the axes of the first screw 86 and the second screw 87 may only be required to cross each other, so that a constitution in which the rotational axis of the second screw 87 is inclined from a longitudinal end portion of the cartridge B toward an inside may also be employed.
  • the axes of the first screw 86 and the third screw 88 may also cross each other, not in parallel to each other.
  • the screw which is the feeding member is provided with a feeding portion for feeding the toner (developer).
  • the developer feeding portion may only be required to feed the residual toner and may also be provided with a helical projected portion or a plurality of twisted blade-shaped portions.
  • the feeding member is not limited to the screw but may only be required to employ a constitution capable of feeding the residual toner in the axial direction thereof.
  • the residual toner may also be fed by a coil or the like.
  • a drum contact sheet 65 for preventing the residual toner from leaking out of the cleaning frame 71 is provided at an end portion of the cleaning frame 71 so as to contact the drum 62.
  • the drum 62 is rotationally driven in the arrow R direction in Figure 3 depending on an image forming operation by receiving the driving force from a main assembly driving motor (not shown) which is a driving source.
  • the charging roller 66 is rotatably mounted to the cleaning unit 60 via charging roller bearings 67 at end portions thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 71 (substantially parallel to a rotational axis direction of the drum 62).
  • the charging roller 66 is press-contacted to the drum 62 by pressing the charging roller bearings 67 toward the drum 62 by urging members 68.
  • the charging roller 66 is rotated by rotation of the drum 62.
  • the developing unit 20 includes the developing roller 32, a developing container 23 for supporting the developing roller 32, and the developing blade 42 and the like.
  • a magnet roller 34 is provided inside the developing roller 32. Further, in the developing unit 20, the developing blade 42 for regulating a toner layer (thickness) on the developing roller 32 is disposed.
  • a gap-keeping member 38 is mounted to the developing roller 32 at each of end portions of the developing roller 32, and by contact of the gap-keeping members 38 with the drum 62, the developing roller 32 is held so as to have a predetermined gap with the drum 62.
  • a developing roller contact sheet 33 for preventing leaking-out of the toner from the developing unit 20 is provided at an edge portion of the bottom member 22 so as to contact the developing roller 32.
  • a first feeding member 43, a second feeding member 44 and a third feeding member 50 are provided in the toner chamber 29 formed by the developing container 23 and the bottom member 22.
  • Each of the first feeding member 43, the second feeding member 44 and the third feeding member 50 and not only stirs the toner accommodated in the toner chamber 29 but also feeds the toner to the toner supplying chamber 28.
  • an opening 29a (indicated by a broken line) is provided, and this opening 29a is sealed (covered) with a sealing member 45 until the cartridge B is used.
  • the sealing member 45 is a sheet-shaped member formed of polyethylene or the like, and is welded to the developing container 23 around the opening 29a in one end side thereof and is fixed to the first feeding member 43 in the other end side thereof.
  • the sheet member (sealing member) 45 is wound up by the first feeding member 43 while being peeled at a welding portion between itself and the developing container 23, so that the opening 29a is opened (exposed).
  • the cartridge B is constituted by connecting the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 with each other.
  • the cleaning unit 60 includes, and the cleaning frame 71, the screw cover 74, the drum 62, and the drum bearing 73 and a drum shaft 78 which are used for rotatably supporting the drum 62.
  • a driving side drum flange 63 provided in the driving side is rotatably supported by a hole 73a of the drum bearing 3.
  • the drum shaft 78 press-fitted in a hole 71c provided in the cleaning frame 71 rotatably supports a hole (not shown) of a non-driving side drum flange 64.
  • the developing unit 20 includes the bottom member 22, the developing container 23, the driving side-developing side member 26, the developing blade 42, the developing roller 32 and the like. Further, by bearing members 27 and 37 provided at end portions of the developing roller 32, the developing roller 32 is rotatably mounted to the developing container 23.
  • the cartridge B is constituted by rotatably connecting the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 by connecting pins 69 relative to each other.
  • a developing-first supporting hole 23a and a developing-second supporting hole 23b are provided in the developing container 23 at longitudinal end portions of the developing unit 20.
  • first hanging holes 71i and second hanging holes 71j are provided in the cleaning frame 71.
  • the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20 are rotatably connected with each other.
  • a first hole 46Ra of a driving side-urging member 46R is hooked on a boss 73c of the drum bearing member 73
  • a second hole 46Rb of the driving side-urging member 46R is hooked on a boss 26a of the driving side-developing side member 26.
  • a first hole 46Fa of a non-driving side-urging member 46F is hooked on a boss 71k of the cleaning frame 71
  • a second hole 46Fb of the non-driving side-urging member 46F is hooked on a boss 37a of the bearing member 37.
  • each of the driving side-urging member 46R and the non-driving side-urging member 46F is formed with a tension spring. Further, the developing unit 20 is urged toward the cleaning unit 60 by an urging force of these springs, so that the developing roller 32 is constituted so as to be pressed toward the drum 62 with reliability. Further, by the gap maintaining members 38 provided at the end portions of the developing roller 32, the developing roller 32 is held with a predetermined gap from the drum 62.
  • FIG. 1 (a) is a sectional view of a first feeding path 79a and a second feeding path 79b, and (b) is a sectional view of the residual toner accommodating container taken along G-G line of (a) of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 14 is a perspective view of a connecting portion between the first screw 86 and the second screw 87.
  • the rotational axis of the first screw is a first axis L1
  • the rotational axis of the second screw 87 is a second axis L2
  • an axis perpendicular to each of the first axis L1 and the second axis L2 is L3.
  • Figure 15 is a schematic view of the connecting portion between the first screw 86 and the second screw 87 as seen in a direction of the first axis L1.
  • the first feeding path 79a and the second feeding path 79b are provided in the residual toner accommodating container 75.
  • the first screw 86 and the second screw 87 are rotatably disposed and supported in the first feeding path 79a and the second feeding path 79b, respectively.
  • an end portion of the first screw 86 in a drive-connecting portion side is inserted into a hole 74a of the screw cover 74, and the other end portion thereof is inserted into a hole (not shown) provided in the cleaning frame 71.
  • the second screw 87 supports the end portion of the first screw 86 in the drive-connecting portion side by a supporting portion provided on the screw cover 74 as described later, and supports the other end portion by bearings (not shown) provided to the cleaning frame 71 and the cover member 72.
  • the first screw 86 as a first feeding member includes a driving shaft 86b1, a drive transmitting portion 86a, and a helical blade 86g as a feeding portion for feeding the developer, and is provided in the first feeding path 79a.
  • the second screw 87 includes a driven shaft 87b1 as a rotation shaft, a drive receiving portion 87a for receiving the driving force from the drive transmitting portion 86a, and a helical blade 87c as a feeding portion for feeding the developer, and is provided in the second feeding path 79b.
  • the drive transmitting portion 86a is constituted by 5 engaging blades 86a1 - 86a5 as engaging portions projecting from the driving shaft 86b1.
  • the drive receiving portion 87a is constituted by 5 blades-to-be-engaged 87a1 - 87a5 as portions-to-be-engaged projecting from the driven shaft 87b1.
  • each of the number of the engaging blades 86a1 - 86a5 and the number of the blades-to-be-engaged 87a1 - 87a5 is not limited to 5. It is only required that at least one engaging blade 86a and two or more blades-to-be-engaged 87a are provided and that the driving force can be transmitted.
  • the first screw 86 and the second screw 87 are disposed as described below. That is, the first screw 86 and the second screw 87 are disposed so that a circle 86d drawn by a locus of rotation of engaging blade free ends 86c1 - 86c5 (maximum projected portions of the drive transmitting portion 86a in a radial direction) of the first screw 86 and the second axis L2 of the second screw 87 cross each other.
  • a D-cut surface 86e as an inputting portion of the first screw 86 passes through the hole 74a provided in the screw cover 74 and projects to an outside of the residual toner accommodating container 75, so that the D-cut surface 86e connects with an unshown gear.
  • the first screw 86 rotates in the first feeding path 79a.
  • a sponge-shaped sealing member (not shown) is provided in a gap between the first screw 86 and the hole 74a, and an elastomer-shaped sealing member (not shown) is provided in a gap between the cleaning frame 71 and the screw cover 74.
  • the engaging blades 86a1 - 86a5 repeat engagement with and spacing from the blades-to-be-engaged 87a1 - 87a5, and thus delivers the residual toner while transmitting the driving force of the first screw to the second screw 87.
  • the second screw 87 transmits the driving force to the third screw 88 in the residual toner chamber 71b and delivers the residual toner to the third screw 88 while rotating.
  • the cleaning frame 71 is provided with a first bearing portion 71 l as a bearing portion for preventing movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the first axis L1. Further, as shown in (b) of Figure 1 , the cleaning frame 71 is provided with a second bearing portion 71m and a third bearing portion 71n which are used for preventing movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the third axis L3. Further, the cleaning frame 71 is provided with a first preventing portion 71q for preventing movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the second axis L2.
  • the second screw 87 is likely to move in a J direction in Figure 1 . That is, as seen in the direction of the third axis L3, with respect to the second axis L2, the second screw 87 is likely to move in the J direction from a side where the drive transmitting portion 86a is disposed toward a side where the first bearing portion 711 is disposed. However, movement of the second screw 87 in the J direction is prevented by the first bearing portion 711. At this time, the prevention of the movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the first axis L1 caused by the transmission of the driving force may only be made with respect to the J direction.
  • prevention of the movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the first axis L1 can be made by the first bearing portion 711. For that reason, there is no need to dispose the bearing in the neighborhood of a side downstream of the drive transmitting portion 86a in a side where the drive transmitting portion 86a is disposed in the second feeding path 79b with respect to the second axis L2. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a degree of inhibition of the toner (developer) fed by the drive transmitting portion 86a in the arrow Y direction by the bearing itself which rotatably supports the end portion of the second screw 87 in the drive-connecting portion side. By the above-described effect, a toner feeding property can be improved.
  • Second Embodiment of the present invention will be described.
  • portions (drive transmitting portion and developer feeding portion) different from those in First Embodiment will be described in detail.
  • materials, shapes and the like of portions are similar to those in First Embodiment.
  • the portions are represented by the same reference numerals or symbols and will be omitted from detailed description.
  • the second feeding path 79b includes an enlarged portion (path) 76 where the feeding path is enlarged in the neighborhood of the first feeding path 79a.
  • a most downstream position of the second feeding path 79b with respect to the direction of the second axis L2 is a first position
  • a position where the second feeding path 79b connects with the first feeding path 79a with respect to the direction of the second axis L2 is a second position L2B.
  • the screw cover 74 has a first wall surface 74p between the upstream second position L2B where the drive transmitting portion 86a is provided and the downstream first position L2A with respect to the direction of the second axis L2.
  • the first wall position 74p is disposed so that the second feeding path 79b is larger at the second position L2B than at the first position L2A as seen in the direction of the third axis L3. That is, the first wall surface 74p has a shape such that a distance of the first wall surface 74p from the second axis L2 increases at the upstream second position more than at the downstream first position with respect to the developer feeding direction.
  • the toner feeding can be made in the larger path having the first wall surface 74p, so that the toner feeding property can be further improved.
  • the drive transmitting portion 86a is provided in a region upstream of the first screw 86 with respect to the feeding direction X.
  • the screw cover 74 is provided with the first bearing portion 741, as a bearing portion for preventing movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the first axis L1, only in a side opposite from the side where the drive transmitting portion 86a is provided with respect to the second axis L2. Further, the screw cover 74 is provided with a second bearing portion 74m and a third bearing portion 74n which are used for preventing movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the third axis L3 and is provided with a first preventing portion 74q for preventing movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the second axis L2.
  • the cleaning frame 71 has a first wall surface 71p between the downstream first position L2A and the upstream second position L2B with respect to the developer feeding direction in a side where the drive transmitting portion 86a is provided with respect to the second axis L2.
  • the toner can be delivered from the first screw 86 to the second screw 87 along a shorter path, so that the toner feeding property can be further improved.
  • portions drive transmitting portion and developer feeding portion
  • portions different from those in Third Embodiment will be described in detail.
  • materials, shapes and the like of portions are similar to those in Third Embodiment.
  • the portions are represented by the same reference numerals or symbols and will be omitted from detailed description.
  • regions (positions) of the first wall surface 71p and the drive transmitting portion 86a at least partly overlap with each other with respect to the direction of the first axis L1
  • regions (positions) of the first wall surface 71p and the first bearing portion 74 l at least partly overlap with each other with respect to the direction of the second axis L2.
  • the enlarged path 76 is provided not only between the first position L2A and the second position L2B but also between the third position L1A and the fourth position L1B. Further, at least a part of the first bearing portion 74 l is disposed between the first position L2A and the second position L2B, and at least a part of the drive transmitting portion 86a is disposed between the third position L1A and the fourth position L1B.
  • the regions (positions) of the drive transmitting portion 86a and the first wall surface 71p at least partly overlap with each other with respect to the direction of the first axis L1
  • the regions (positions) of the first bearing portion 74 l and the first wall surface 71p at least partly overlap with each other with respect to the direction of the second axis L2.
  • At least one of the toner fed in the arrow Y direction by the drive transmitting portion 86a and the toner fed in the arrow Y direction by receiving the toner feeding force of the helical blade 86g applies a force W1 to the toner in the neighborhood of the first wall surface 71p.
  • the toner which received the force W1 applies a force W1 to the second screw W1 in the direction of the first axis L1 through the first wall surface 71p.
  • the second screw 87 is pressed against the first bearing portion 74 l by receiving the force W1 from the toner, so that movement of the second screw 87 in the direction of the first axis L1 is suppressed, and thus a position of a rotational axis of the second screw 87 can be stabilized.
  • the drive transmitting portion 86a is disposed in one side and the bearing portion 711 is disposed only in the other side, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
  • the drive transmitting portion 86a is disposed in one side and the bearing portion 71 l may also be disposed in each of the other side and the one side.
  • the present invention having the constitutes relating to the screw members described in the above-described embodiments is not limited to those for feeding the residual toner, but may also be used for feeding the developer in the developing device.
  • the developer feeding member the mechanism using the first screw 86 and the second screw 87 was described, but the developer feeding member is not limited to the screw.
  • the developer feeding member may also be a flexible sheet provided on a rotation shaft so as to feed the developer in a radial direction.
  • the feeding device for feeding the developer is provided in the process cartridge insertable into the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus, but may also be provided in an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is not used.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
  • Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
EP16193454.2A 2015-10-14 2016-10-12 Feeding device Active EP3156852B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2015202503A JP6584276B2 (ja) 2015-10-14 2015-10-14 搬送装置及びカートリッジ

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EP3156852A1 EP3156852A1 (en) 2017-04-19
EP3156852B1 true EP3156852B1 (en) 2021-01-27

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16193454.2A Active EP3156852B1 (en) 2015-10-14 2016-10-12 Feeding device

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US (1) US10073380B2 (ja)
EP (1) EP3156852B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP6584276B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN106597820B (ja)

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JP6724494B2 (ja) 2016-03-31 2020-07-15 ブラザー工業株式会社 ドラムユニット
JP7179476B2 (ja) 2018-04-05 2022-11-29 キヤノン株式会社 支持ユニットの製造方法、現像剤容器の製造方法、感光体ユニットの製造方法及びプロセスカートリッジの製造方法
CN109725517B (zh) * 2019-03-20 2023-12-19 珠海天威飞马打印耗材有限公司 显影剂供给容器
CN112782948B (zh) * 2019-11-06 2024-10-25 株式会社理光 纸张输送装置和图像形成设备

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JP2938824B2 (ja) * 1997-02-06 1999-08-25 株式会社リコー 電子写真装置の現像装置
JP2002072811A (ja) * 2000-08-31 2002-03-12 Samsung Yokohama Research Institute Co Ltd 電子写真装置
JP3851530B2 (ja) 2001-09-28 2006-11-29 シャープ株式会社 画像形成装置
KR20060029552A (ko) * 2004-10-02 2006-04-06 삼성전자주식회사 현상장치 및 이를 적용한 화상형성장치
JP4636851B2 (ja) 2004-11-05 2011-02-23 キヤノン株式会社 現像剤搬送装置
JP5002183B2 (ja) 2006-04-18 2012-08-15 キヤノン株式会社 現像剤搬送装置及び画像形成装置
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JP4525739B2 (ja) * 2007-11-14 2010-08-18 富士ゼロックス株式会社 現像剤搬送装置及び画像形成装置
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US10073380B2 (en) 2018-09-11
EP3156852A1 (en) 2017-04-19
CN106597820B (zh) 2020-05-08
US20170108801A1 (en) 2017-04-20
JP2017076016A (ja) 2017-04-20
JP6584276B2 (ja) 2019-10-02
CN106597820A (zh) 2017-04-26

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